Friday, December 11, 2009

Erap party fields more bets in congressional races

With 68 strong contenders for the House of Repre-sentatives already officially endorsed by opposition standard-bearer Joseph Estrada and more clamoring to obtain his support even after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) drew an official close to the registration period for local candidates last Dec. 1, the United Opposition (UNO) has achieved an 80-percent representation in all the country’s congressional districts

and is confident that 2010 will be a banner year for Estrada’s party.

Estrada’s spokesman Margaux Salcedo in jest referred to Estrada as the most popular jukebox there is, and local candidates the hit records scrambling to be included in his roster of surefire hit selections.

“Each candidate who seeks President Estrada’s endorsement confirms his position as the true force to reckon with in 2010,” Salcedo, in a statement, said.

“Surveys do not represent in full the true voice of the people – only the crowds that welcome him everywhere he goes, and the support he receives from both national and local candidates seeking his endorsement, reflect the reality of the current political landscape.”

According to Salcedo, all this only proves that Estrada’s clout remains largely undiminished and is, in fact, growing steadily.

She also brushed aside the reported proliferation of black propaganda particularly on the Internet casting aspersions on Estrada’s character.

“As President Estrada’s candidacy gains ground, the wave of black propaganda will increase and intensify proportionately,” Salcedo stressed. “We know that, because it is a fact of life in politics that the most popular candidate always receives the lion’s share of brickbats and criticisms.”

But Salcedo maintained that Estrada’s camp remains focused solely on bringing the latter’s message of hope and unity throughout the country.

“We want everyone, especially the masses who have never wavered in their support for President Estrada, to know that the opposition’s standard-bearer is in this for the long haul, and there is no turning back in his goal of claiming the presidency not for his benefit, but for the benefit of the poor and downtrodden who look to him for deliverance,” Salcedo said.